by Murison, J W
‘I understand that sir but it would be a shame to lose you before we even left Earth.’
Steven slapped him on the shoulder, ‘this isn’t my first time in action Colonel and you may be surprised by how well I can handle myself.’
‘I read your record sir and I am aware of that.’
‘Once we’re fully manned Colonel you can give every member of the crew some military training, but until then you’re just going to have to trust me. Is there anything else?’
‘Yes sir Sergeant Grey has finished the bomb.’
‘Already, I’m impressed. Do you wanna go test it before we knock off?’
The Colonel grinned, ‘oh yes.’
Komoru interrupted, ‘what bomb?’
Steven explained, ‘one of Major Forbes men claimed he could make an atomic bomb, so I asked him to prove it before I let him join the crew.’
She gasped horrified, ‘you have an atomic bomb on board, what are you going to do with it?’
‘Nothing actually, we’re going to go into space and detonate it to see if it works, that’s all.’
‘That’s all. Do you have any particular spot in space you want to contaminate or are you just going to blow it up anywhere.’
Steven blushed, ‘no not really, I never really thought about it.’
‘That’s obvious. Well I suggest you do it somewhere out of sight of the Earth or you may start a panic and it might give the American President an excuse to throw a lot more than bullets at you tomorrow.’
‘You’re right Komoru, it is a bad idea, but I really want to see if this will work. Babe can you find a spot that fits Komoru’s parameters?’
‘It will take us five minutes to reach there my heart.’
‘Then give the order please.’
Five minutes later they were hidden behind Jupiter. Jim Grey stood behind Steven with a pair of dark glasses on and a gun in a holster at his side. Everyone had gathered to witness the event.
Steven squinted in his chair, ‘ok Jim you can detonate it now.’
He took a small transmitter from his pocket and showed it to Steven, ‘Babes magnifying the signal for me. Ok here we go, five, four, three, two, one.’
There was a slight delay then a bright light lit up the darkness of space. Everyone shielded their eyes then there was a spontaneous round of applause. Jim Grey couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.
Steven turned round still clapping, ‘well done, I must admit I had my doubts. How on Earth did you manage to complete it so quickly?’
He shrugged, ‘it was easy; I drew a wiring diagram for Babe. She made up the circuit boards and supplied all the materials to my specs and then it was a simple case of putting it all together.’
Steven held out his hand, ‘welcome to the crew. If you report to the doctor she will oversee your implants.’
‘Thank you sir, there is one thing though. I see you already have an armourer; I thought I would be a dab hand at that job.’
Steven laughed and looked for a face, ‘Chief what have you to say on that matter?’
He stepped forward and stuck his face close to Jims, ‘listen laddie, any man who can build an atomic bomb from scratch including drawing the circuit diagrams, does not belong in a bloody armoury. I’m quite sure the Captain will let you blow something up now and then to keep you happy, but you’re coming with me.’
Jim looked crest fallen and Steven decided to step in before the man decided to change his mind. ‘The Chiefs right, someone with your talents will prove invaluable to us. Of course your first job will be as part of Colonel Howe’s team. However every scientist on board is going to need someone with your practical skills, we are a ham fisted breed Jim.
I couldn’t have done what you just did and neither could any other man or woman on board. That kind of talent is invaluable but we need it where it counts the most and that’s in engineering. If you wish to visit the armoury and invent new weapons, or work with those we have then please do so, no one is going to stop you.’
Jim smiled, ‘I can live with that.’
‘Chief could you take him up?’
‘No problems, this way laddie.’
Steven turned and addressed everyone else there, ‘I suggest as soon as we return to the Moon that everyone turn in for the night, it’s been a long day and its going to be an even longer one tomorrow.’
Chapter 43
It was a cool clear moonlit night, but Brian Gordon wasn’t aware of that in his basement cell. What he was becoming aware of was an insistent beeping of an alarm. He came half-awake imagining he was at home in his bed. He wondered idly for a moment why there was no sunlight spilling in the curtains. Then he remembered.
He came bolt upright in the narrow cot knowing exactly where he was and realizing there were no alarm clocks in this cell. It was pitch black but he could feel pressure on his feet.
His hands came into contact with something large and round which felt like glass. The beeping was coming from somewhere amongst the bundle. He searched around with his hands and found something long and cylindrical.
It was a torch and he switched it on. He squinted against the sudden glare but spotted a small square object with a button on top. He picked it up and depressed the button. The beeping ceased. In the sudden silence he sat and listened for any movement from the corridor outside, but everything was quiet.
He looked to the bundle at his feet and frowned, what the hell was it? He got up and took a closer look. It was apparent that it was some kind of suit with a glass helmet. There was a note, he picked it up and read. ‘Dad you have five minutes to put this on, love Steven.’
He almost dropped the torch in his haste, but quickly clambered into the space suit. He sat and listened to his heart hammer in his chest aware that something dramatic was about to happen. Footsteps approached his cell door. He quickly switched the torch off and slipped back under the covers.
The guard went straight past without looking in. Brian got out of bed and crossed silently to the door. He put his ear as close as he could without hitting the door with his helmet.
The footsteps faltered then there came the sound of wet meat hitting the floor, Brian pulled back from the door with a terrible grimace, ‘ouch.’
He put his ear back to the door and listened for what seemed an age but there was nothing more. Then suddenly came the blaring of klaxons all over the prison.
Brian stepped back from the door, ‘shit!’
Everything had gone to plan for a start. They had come in a long shallow orbit to reduce any chances of being spotted. At ten thousand feet they had hovered above the prison, invisible to the naked eye. At Steven’s command she began dispersing the air fresheners around the prison.
Men who where resting in the cells suddenly feel asleep. Those already sleeping fell into a dreamless slumber. Sentries in watchtowers and patrolling the corridors fell at their stations. Only those patrolling the grounds outside were unaffected.
Babe dropped like a stone and landed next to the prison wall. Tapper and his three men ran down the ramp. Their new weapons made short work of the walls and they ran inside.
A guard dog started barking as it caught their scent. Two men with a dog ran around the corner into well-aimed shots from the four men. They dropped like a stone. They made their way to the guardhouse.
Easily gaining entry Tapper called up Steven, ‘they're out cold sir, we’ll hold the perimeter from here.’
The ship landed half in the courtyard. Colonel Howe and Beaver were first off the ship. A small explosive charge to the main doors blew them open and they were in. Steven found that somehow the men managed to keep him in the middle. It was a little awkward running around in their space suits, but less so Howe assured than with gasmasks.
What they didn’t realise was that the prison was also being monitored from an outside location. An FBI operator, half asleep at his post had decided to go and get himself a coffee at the precise moment they struck. The operator took
his coffee over to a table laden with magazines and began to flip through them.
After finding an article he was interested in he went back to his post and sat down. His eyes flicked up at the screens then went back to the article; they froze there. Slowly he looked back up and cursed. He reached for the emergency buttons but by that time they were deep inside the prison itself.
They had found that on the kill setting their weapons could easily cut through the door locks. Beaver had set his weapon to kill while the Colonel covered him. Beaver cut through another lock with a grin, it was much quicker than searching the sleeping guards for keys and safer than using explosives.
As he kicked the door open klaxons went off all over the prison.
‘Shit!’ Howe cursed.
‘Let’s just keep going.’ Steven reassured.
Komoru was still at ten thousand feet keeping an eye on the whole area. Ico detected movement and she warned Steven.
‘Steven there is a dozen helicopters taking off from an air base about twenty miles away and heading in your direction.’
‘Thank you Komoru any idea what they are?’
‘Wait a second.’ Ico scanned them. ‘There are four carrying tanks, six troops and two of them are too small to carry either but they seem to be faster than the others.’
Colonel Howe knew what they were, ‘the first two will be gunships. They will try and cripple Babe on the ground.’
Steven nodded, ‘Babe raise all your shields, can you sustain an attack from both of those ships.’
‘Do not worry my heart only the biggest of Earth weapons could possibly damage me.’
‘Yes but what if they drop a building on you?’
‘Have no fear my heart, I have sustained meteor showers that would destroy this whole planet without damage.’
Steven smiled to himself, ‘ok, Major Forbes we have incoming, did you read that?’
‘Let them come, we’re ready.’
Howe was right; the gunships came in first. Babe extended her shields to cover the front door and the guardhouse. Tank busting missiles streaked in only to explode harmlessly in the air. Others directed at the guardhouse suffered the same fate. A line of what looked like green tracer streaked out of the protective bubble and struck one of the gunships.
Sparks flew from the pilot’s consul and the engine immediately began to lose power. He managed to turn it away but it hit the street a few hundred yards up. Men spilled from the smoking gunship. Tapper let them get to a safe distance before shooting them. Their twitching bodies hit the sidewalk.
The second gunship streaked in with missiles firing and all guns blazing. As it streaked overhead Cookie hit its tail rotor and the machine began to swing wildly out of control. It dipped behind a row of houses and a few seconds later a large pall of smoke was flung above the rooftops.
Tapper reported to Steven, ‘that’s both Gunships down sir.’
Steven shook his head sadly hoping there was no loss of life. ‘Ok thanks Major, we’re at the last door now before my father’s cell. Komoru how long do we have until the next wave arrives?’
‘Only a few minutes until the troops arrive, a little more for the tanks.’
‘Thank you.’
Colonel Howe reached the cell first and shouted through the heavy door, ‘are you in their Doc?’
‘Is that you Colonel?’
‘Yes sir, please stand back from the door and to the side.’
‘Ok.’
Howe nodded to Beaver who quickly cut through the locks and kicked the door in. Brian almost ran out, ‘Christ it’s good to see you but it’s a trap.’
Steven tapped his father on the arm, ‘hi dad.’
Brian looked shocked, ‘my God Steven what are you doing here?’
Steven grinned, ‘getting you home to mother, explanations later we’ve got to run, can you manage?’
‘Just lead the way son.’
‘Let’s go, Major Forbes, we’re on our way out.’
‘Roger that, be quick I can hear the next wave coming in.’
They set off at a run.
Outside things began to heat up. One chopper landed within sight of the guardhouse and made the mistake of turning so its ramp faced the waiting men. Green fire laced over the lowering ramp. Men rushed out into it and fell. The men behind had to step or jump over them making themselves perfect targets for the seasoned veterans of Tapper’s command.
Within a few minutes it was all over. Twitching men littered the ramp and surrounding ground. The remaining choppers didn’t make the same mistake. They unloaded in the safety of nearby streets and men poured towards the prison.
Sweat was beginning to pool in Steven suit when Komoru’s warning came through.
‘Many soldiers have blasted a way through the rear wall of the prison and have gained entry.’
‘Thanks Komoru we haven’t far to go now.’
The first soldiers inside the complex fell victim to the sleeping gas. Those behind quickly donned gas masks.
The first tank hit the street behind the prison and raced towards the gates. Green fire laced its hull and turret, but the tank was protected against EM Burst radiation and it had no effect. A high explosive shell answered their fire and smashed harmlessly into the shield.
Tapper cranked his weapon up to kill and took careful aim, but a thick covering of titanium armour protected the tank.
Tapper cursed and turned it up to full power. Again he took careful aim. This time the green fire sliced into the tanks tracks. Pieces of fused track and road wheels burst onto the road and the tank slewed sideways. Before it could react Tapper sliced off the gun barrel, which fell harmlessly onto its deck.
He grinned as he turned the weapons power back down again, ‘smile boys, we just made every armoured fighting vehicle in the entire world obsolete.’
Jim Grey fired at the tank men as they bailed out of the tank, scattering twitching bodies across the width of the road, ‘I think we just made bullets obsolete as well.’
Cookie shook his head in wonder, ‘just think, you could have a war without killing anybody. All you would have to do is knock the buggers out and throw them in the can.’
Tapper grunted, ‘I wouldn’t get too excited about it just yet. I doubt if humanity is ready for bloodless wars.’
Jim grinned, ‘yeah and where’s the fun in that?’
His companions did a double take to make sure he was joking and smiled when they realised he was.
The other tanks took up position out of sight and began to bombard them with high explosives. They burst harmlessly against the outer shield.
Tapper looked up, ‘Babe those shells can’t get through but can people or vehicles?’
‘No only those with nanobots in their blood stream can penetrate the shields.’
Tapper reappraised the situation, ‘thanks Babe. Steven I’m moving my unit back to cover your retreat from the prison.’
‘Ok Major. Babe how am I going to get my Father through the shields?’
‘Hold his hand.’
Steven grinned, ‘ok thanks.’
Komoru had been watching the progress of the troops, ‘Steven, some of those soldiers look like they may be able to head you off.’
‘Thanks Komoru. Babe extend your shields towards us as much as you can; Major take your men to the edge of the shields but do not go beyond that. Lewis if you would like to back up Major Forbes your help would be most welcome.’
Lewis reached the front doors first and moved forward cautiously, ‘How will I know when I reach de edge of de shields Babe?’
‘You will feel a tingling on your skin.’
He walked forward with a hand extended until he felt the extraordinary sensation, ‘I got it Major, but you and de boys had better hurry I can hear people running and not from de Captains direction.’
‘Hold the fort for us Lewis we’re on our way.’
The shield extended to a junction of corridors. The giant took up position just inside the
shield and braced himself.
Steven paused at the top of another flight of stairs and caught his breath. The Colonel cautioned him to stay put for a farther few seconds until his Father had recovered a little, ‘we’ve only a few hundred meters to go sir.’
Steven could easily hear the thunder of running feet echoing down the empty corridors, ‘is it wise to wait Colonel?’
‘Far better to walk into trouble than run into it sir.’
Steven gave him a small nod, ‘you’re the expert Colonel.’
Howe turned to his men, ‘ok spread out, keep the doctor in the middle, you know the drill.’ In an instant they turned from fugitives to hunters.
They came in from the interconnecting corridors and tried to cut them off from their line of retreat. Men spilled into the main corridor. Lewis braced himself and fired. Men fell twitching, but still more came. Tapper and his team arrived and added to the equation. Those who survived unscathed quickly dodged back into the adjoining corridors and sprayed bullets around the corners; they bounced harmlessly off the shield.
Someone ordered a ceasefire and a man walked out into the open with his hands held high, ‘you boys are completely surrounded, why don’t you surrender?’
Tapper went to answer but Lewis clamped a giant hand over his mouth and whispered in his ear, ‘dey heah yo accent suh, it could cause a lot of trouble.’
Tapper nodded his agreement, his appreciation of the big man doubling.
Lewis stepped forward, ‘what foh?’
The man tried to smile through his gas mask, ‘you don’t understand, you’re completely surrounded by troops and tanks.’
‘So?’
There was an awkward silence. ‘Look I’m trying to save lives here and prevent more bloodshed.’
‘Dey ain’t been no bloodshed dat I seen. Check you boy’s dey ain’t dead only stunned. In thirty minutes or so dey all be up and running, but hey you wanna play rough we can cut you down right through dem walls.’
Lewis cranked up his weapon to full power and cut through the wall beside him. Stepping forward he kicked a large chunk of the wall out. ‘Hey maybe you and your boys wanna surrender. Maybe de Captain give you all a trip to de Moon if’n you’re all real nice.’